CAN MAN LIVE WITHOUT GOD? - PART II (3 OF 4)
by Joe Alain
Scripture: Romans 1:21-25
This content is part of a series.
Can Man Live Without God? - Part II (3 of 4)
Series: Romans
Joe Alain
Romans 1:21-25
In the first part of this message we looked at the truth that man needs God because . . .
I. There Is Moral Order in the World (1:18-25)
This moral order is seen in the testimony of God's creation and in human conscience. Because we suppress this truth about God; that is, the truth about His moral order revealed in creation and in our conscience, a vacuum is created. And as we know, nature abhors a vacuum! This leaves us with the problem that we are spiritual beings without a God to worship. What do we do? We exchange the glory of the true God for images - God-substitutes (vv.23, 25).
In this message we see that man needs God . . .
II. Because of Man's Fatal Attraction to God-Substitutes
Apart from God's grace, we possess a fatal attraction to God-substitutes. This is why Paul deals with this exchange, this inclination that we have to substitute idols for the real God. God wants us to know the truth because it is God's truth that sets us free. He wants us to flee from this fatal attraction to God-substitutes and to help others escape this dead end that will never produce life!
Even though people had general revelation of God through the testimony of creation (from without) and through the testimony of conscience (from within), Paul says that they "neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (v.21).
Two things immediately result when a person suppresses the knowledge of God.
1. People Fail to Glorify God as God
What does this mean? Even though they had the knowledge of God, they did not honor Him and value Him as God. This is really the fundamental problem with the human race. People do not honor God by first acknowledging Him, and second, by valuing Him as God.
2. People Fail to Give Thanks to God
People who fail to glorify God, who do not honor Him are ingrates. The great sin o ...
Series: Romans
Joe Alain
Romans 1:21-25
In the first part of this message we looked at the truth that man needs God because . . .
I. There Is Moral Order in the World (1:18-25)
This moral order is seen in the testimony of God's creation and in human conscience. Because we suppress this truth about God; that is, the truth about His moral order revealed in creation and in our conscience, a vacuum is created. And as we know, nature abhors a vacuum! This leaves us with the problem that we are spiritual beings without a God to worship. What do we do? We exchange the glory of the true God for images - God-substitutes (vv.23, 25).
In this message we see that man needs God . . .
II. Because of Man's Fatal Attraction to God-Substitutes
Apart from God's grace, we possess a fatal attraction to God-substitutes. This is why Paul deals with this exchange, this inclination that we have to substitute idols for the real God. God wants us to know the truth because it is God's truth that sets us free. He wants us to flee from this fatal attraction to God-substitutes and to help others escape this dead end that will never produce life!
Even though people had general revelation of God through the testimony of creation (from without) and through the testimony of conscience (from within), Paul says that they "neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (v.21).
Two things immediately result when a person suppresses the knowledge of God.
1. People Fail to Glorify God as God
What does this mean? Even though they had the knowledge of God, they did not honor Him and value Him as God. This is really the fundamental problem with the human race. People do not honor God by first acknowledging Him, and second, by valuing Him as God.
2. People Fail to Give Thanks to God
People who fail to glorify God, who do not honor Him are ingrates. The great sin o ...
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